Toronto Day Trip: Beautiful Discovery Walks and CN Tower

Last Updated on January 6, 2021 by Nina Ahmedow

Toronto impressed and amazed me. The tall buildings were exactly what I had expected in a North American city but had not yet seen in Montreal, Boston, or Ottawa.

Canada’s largest city has those imposing, seemingly endless buildings you’ve seen in movies; but they’re not all you can see on a Toronto day trip.

What to Do on Your Toronto Day Trip

If you want to explore as much as possible on your Toronto day trip going on one or more of the Discovery Walks is probably your best option. You simply download the free routes off the website and are immediately good to go.

The great thing about these walks is that they include both architecture as well as nature walks depending on your interests. I don’t think they were around when I was in Toronto 15 years ago, but we still did a lot of walking which is one of my favorite ways to explore any city.

Especially since walking is a free activity, and most people are on at least a bit of a budget when traveling.

In terms of must-sees in Toronto, you definitely don’t want to miss Yonge-Dundas and the CN Tower on your Toronto day trip, and perhaps even visit a museum if there’s enough time. The CN Tower may not be beautiful, but it is the tallest free-standing structure in North America. In any case, you probably won’t be able to ignore it when you’re out and about. But up close it’s really not that nice to look at if you ask me.

Aside from all the things to see, Toronto has a great entertainment scene as well, so if you have an evening in Toronto you could include a theater performance on Yonge Street as well.

But if you’d rather escape the bustling commercial center I suggest you head to Midtown Toronto to admire all the majestic mansions and gorgeous parks. I think visiting some residential neighborhoods provides a nice glimpse into everyday life in a new city.

Last but not least, I highly recommend you include a visit to Kensington Market and Chinatown on your Toronto day trip. Kensington Market is a great neighborhood for exploring some of Toronto’s fabulous street art and going shopping for anything from vintage fashion to spices, books, and fresh produce. Unsurprisingly, you can also find a plethora of vegan restaurants in the area.

I had several days in Toronto and still didn’t get to see all the things Canada’s largest city has to offer (I definitely need to go back one day).

Walking in Toronto

Toronto is a very safe city, especially if you compare it with US cities. The thing you have to pay most attention to on a Toronto day trip is where you’re walking. And it’s not that the traffic is a problem or anything. But in the days of smartphones please pay attention to where you’re going, especially when you cross the street. Also, be careful when you get off a streetcar because there might be a bike trying to pass the streetcar. Basically, try to be very aware when you’re walking through Toronto as you hopefully are back home.

I absolutely loved Toronto and enjoyed my trip there after all those months in Montreal. Because while I don’t agree that Montreal is all that European, it also doesn’t have the typical North American characteristics that Toronto has and that I was curious about.